Quiet Waters

“The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.” (Psalm 95:5)

“Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.’” (Exodus 14:13-14)

My thirst is quenched by the mighty flood of the Lord; above me is the waterfall of the Spirit—crashing down to soak my soul with a gentle raging power—below, the ubiquitous thick rainforest steam rising up to steep my skin and lungs in its warm, wet glow. I sit at the shoreline of His broad ocean, bright shining with the light of the Morning Star, waiting for healing to come—and am met by the rising tide and lapping waves, kisses tickling blisters, cooling bruises and sore feet. I am a drip in the ocean and the whole of the ocean is cupped in His hand and still He sees me.

“‘Therefore, say to the Israelites: “I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you … and I will redeem you… I will take you as my own… And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD.”’” (Exodus 6:6-8)

This is the marriage proposal of my King, and His promise is to plant me “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever [it] does prospers” (Psalm 1:3). I am a mangrove, not planted beside but swamped in His living water, surrounded on all sides by His green warm nourishment, soaked to overflowing, His precious guarded garden. The Everglades. Eden.

“LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” (Psalm 16:5-6)

The Lord has decided on that portion, and it is the end of barrenness—it is the richness of endless oil pouring a continual steady rain of life, glossing my heart with the fresh dewdrops of a brilliant new morning.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” (Psalm 23:5-6)

It is endless, this fullness of joy and brimming over of blessings, these endless glorious riches of Christ Jesus, the fullness of the knowledge of His presence, the hope of glory. I am filled and anointed and blessed to pour out, anoint and bless. I am the fruit-laden tree, never giving from need, but bounty—food for the hungry, rest for the weary. Birds hidden in branches cry out their song, a mellow lulling lovely refrain for the anxious in spirit who have come to abide in my shade. I give from the fullness of life I’ve been given, from the stores of oil and flour that never run empty. I give from the flood of gifts of my immeasurable God.

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16-18)

My Lord knows where I am, and He has come after me and has found me. I am rooted in His depths of love—deep calls to deep—rooted in the deep veins of pure underground streams untouched, untapped, unblemished, rich with the minerals of the earth. I cannot be pulled out. I am His perfect bride, enraptured by His covenant promises. I cannot be pulled away. My being is stretched to the edges of infinity, eternity is in my heart, everlasting in the light and love of my Lord, and still He fills me to eager excess and fills me with hope for this new monsoon season. I need only be still.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)